Thomas Tuchel left Max Dowman out of England's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan but kept the door open for the 16-year-old Arsenal forward. That decision — take the teenager or protect him — is one every World Cup manager will be wrestling with between now and the summer. Here's who each country is thinking about.
The Players Who Could Force Their Way Onto the Plane
Argentina — Freitas (River Plate)
River Plate has been producing gems for decades. Freitas is the latest. The 18-year-old centre-forward made his Primera Division debut in November 2025, signed his first professional contract shortly after — complete with a $100m (£75m) release clause — and has already drawn comparisons to Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. Argentina's attack is loaded, but a player with that kind of ceiling is hard to leave behind.
Brazil — Rayan
Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup longlist leaked, and Rayan was the name that stopped people mid-scroll. The winger was electric for Vasco da Gama last season, and since moving to England in January he's looked sharp enough in the Premier League to make the conversation real. Rodrygo's serious injury has opened a door. Rayan has the pace, skill, and versatility to play either flank. A few more strong performances and he books his seat.
Portugal — Anisio (Benfica)
Scored in both finals as Portugal won the Under-17 European Championship and the Under-17 World Cup last year — seven goals in the tournament, one behind the Golden Boot winner. Benfica handed him his league debut as a substitute. He scored. Two weeks later, five minutes against Alverca. He scored again, a late winner with a header. At 187cm with aerial ability, technical quality, and Jose Mourinho likening him to Didier Drogba, he's more Theo Walcott in 2006 than a sure-thing starter. But as a late-game option to replace Cristiano Ronaldo — 23 years his senior — the logic isn't as wild as it sounds.
USA — Mehmeti (New York Red Bulls)
Four MLS games in and someone has already compared him to Sergio Busquets. That's American soccer, for you. The 17-year-old captained the Red Bulls' second team to the MLS Next Pro title last year, stepped straight into Bradley's first-team midfield this season, and has looked composed beyond his years. One sporting director put it simply: "He's really talented. My goodness." Whether Mauricio Pochettino has room in his midfield group at this late stage is another question entirely.
Senegal — Idrissa Gueye (Udinese)
Ibrahim Mbaye was the answer to this question a few months ago — until he scored for Senegal at AFCON at 17 and became everyone's business. The new under-the-radar name is Udinese's Idrissa Gueye (not the Everton one). Five goals for Metz in Ligue 2 last season earned him the Serie A loan. He's been coming off the bench regularly in 2026. His only cap came when he was 16. A strong end to the season could convince coach Pape Thiaw to take a chance.
France — Kroupi (Bournemouth)
Breaking into France's forward line is genuinely one of football's harder problems right now. Mbappe, Dembele, Barcola are the establishment. Behind them: Doue, Ekitike, Cherki, Akliouche. And then there's Kroupi — uncapped, turning 20 during the group stages, and having an excellent Premier League season for Bournemouth. He broke records at Lorient as a 16-year-old, has represented France at every youth level from under-16 to under-21, and brings agility, pace, and a sharp eye for goal. Deschamps would be going out on a limb. But limbs have paid off before.
Canada — Jimoh (Inter Toronto)
Born in Newcastle, raised in Brampton, Ontario, and described by Jesse Marsch in 2024 as someone who "can attract big suitors." The 17-year-old made his Canada debut in an unofficial friendly against Guatemala in January. At 5ft 5in he's not physically imposing, but he's aggressive, dynamic, and quick enough to change a game's tempo. Canada's left side is crowded, and the World Cup might come too soon. Marsch may bring him anyway — sometimes the best education is a front-row seat.
Germany, Netherlands, and Spain's Decisions
Germany — El Mala
Lennart Karl is the obvious pick — Champions League minutes at Bayern, clear talent, everyone knows his name. El Mala is the interesting one. A year ago he was in the 3.Liga on loan at Viktoria Koln. He won the division's young player of the year, topped the scoring charts at the Under-19 European Championship in summer 2025, and has since established himself in the Bundesliga at 6ft 2in — ironic for a player Borussia Monchengladbach released at 14 for being too slender. He looks leggy at times, as first-season Bundesliga players often do, but an important goal away to Hamburg recently showed there's still something live here. An outside chance, genuinely.
Netherlands — Read (Feyenoord)
Denzel Dumfries turns 30 in April. The Netherlands have been running their right side through him for six years. Read is the heir apparent — he played 26 Eredivisie games last season after Geertruida left for RB Leipzig, and only made his under-21 debut in October. Ronald Koeman's World Cup squad might be too soon, but not by much.
Spain — Garcia (Real Betis)
Spain keep finding them. Pedri, Gavi, Yamal — ludicrously talented teenagers who walk into major tournaments and look like they belong. Garcia isn't quite at that level yet. But the left-footed Betis winger scored four goals in a 6-5 win over Germany for Spain's under-19s at last summer's European Championship — including one straight from a corner and a 119th-minute winner — finishing with 15 shots across the match. He's still waiting for consistent first-team minutes in La Liga. The dancing dribbles and the searing left foot are real. The timing might just be slightly off for this summer.
Every squad has one of these decisions. Take the kid because he can change a game, or leave him home to avoid the weight of it all. Tuchel hasn't answered it yet. Neither has anyone else.
